Foton, the Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix champion, is the country’s representative this year and will be bracketed in Group A with last year’s seventh-placer Vietnam.

The Toplander have yet to formally reveal their lineup but American stars Lindsay Stalzer, Ariel Usher and Kristy Jaekel are being considered as reinforcements aside from tapping players from other Super Liga teams.

The first time the Philippines joined the club tournament was in 2006 when it carried the colors of Accel. It also competed in 2011 and 2014 with Shakey’s and PLDT as official backers, respectively.

Last year, it was Petron which donned the national colors after bagging the 2014 PSL Grand Prix title.

Brazilians Erica Adachi and Rupia Inck as well as local stars Dindin Manabat, Rachel Anne Daquis, Frances Molina, Maica Morada and Aby Marano powered the Blaze Spikers, who finished eighth in the tough field dominated by world-class teams like Bangkok Glass of Thailand and Seikayu Hisamitsu Spring of Japan.

AVC technical delegate Jaksuwan Tocharoen and AVC marketing and development committee chairman Ramon Suzara will supervise the ceremony that will determine the composition of the pool play in the preliminary round.

“We thank the LVPI, through its president Mr. Joey Romasanta, for throwing its full commitment to our mission of bringing the Philippines back in the international volleyball map,”

“We may not win the title right away, but we’re glad that we’re on the right track as far as getting back to the international arena is concerned. I believe that hosting this kind of tournament will fast track our return to international prominence,” said Suzara, who is also the president of the Philippine Superliga.